After the shocking finale of Stranger Things season 4, the threat of Vecna is seemingly inevitable, however, this means a complicated ending to the Russian storyline. Stranger Things is a science fiction series that first premiered on Netflix 2016. The show starts with the strange disappearance of Will Byers and unravels into a paranormal conspiracy in a small, Midwestern town.

In Stranger Things season 4, the newest, baddest villain is Vecna. As the storyline goes, Vecna began as a young boy who used his telekinetic powers to kill his family in Hawkins, Indiana. He later became Number 1 at Hawkins Lab and manipulated Eleven to free him from Dr. Brenner. Finally, in the present day, he is Vecna, who essentially rules the Upside Down and its horrifying creatures. Stranger Things' Vecna is beyond redemption and the worst threat to ever appear on the series and he's sure to dominate the upcoming season 5. So, what does that mean for the ongoing Russian villains that have appeared for the last two seasons?

Vecna Will Overshadow Stranger Things' Russian Subplot In Season 5

With Vecna proving himself so powerful, it seems unlikely that the Russians will even appear on the evil radar during Stranger Things season 5. While the Russians have been a threat over the past two seasons due to their experiments with the Upside Down and kidnapping Hopper, it's difficult to see where they can go next, especially with Vecna on the rise. In this way, it seems inevitable that Vecna will overshadow the Russian subplot entirely in season 5.

At the end of Stranger Things season 4, Hopper, Joyce, and Murray escaped the Russian camp where Hopper was being held and destroyed the particles from the Upside Down that the Russians had been keeping in their possession. Ironically, this decision wasn't made to weaken the Russians but to weaken Vecna instead. This shows how even at the end of Stranger Things season 4, Vecna began taking precedence over the Russians. Furthermore, when Joyce and Hopper finally reunite with the rest of the gang in a doomed Hawkins, the Russians are the last thing on anyone's mind.

Stranger Things Still Has Questions To Answer About The Russians

Unfortunately, if Stranger Things drops the Russian subplot for Vecna, then there are going to be several questions about the Russians that will go unanswered. Namely, how did the Russians find out about the Upside Down and what are they planning on doing with the information they've gathered? Although the Russian subplot mirrors the Cold War and the 1960s Space Race, the show could still be much clearer about the Russians' intentions and plans with the Upside Down.

Furthermore, Stranger Things season 4 never explained how exactly Hopper got to Russia after the events of the season 3 finale. While many have assumed that he traveled through a gate in the Upside Down, this hasn't been confirmed. Additionally, Stranger Things' Russians' acquiring a Demogorgon and its appearance at the prison raise several questions about the Russians' plans that still need answering.

How The Russians Can Appear In Stranger Things 5

Despite Vecna taking over Stranger Things season 5, the Russians can and should still appear in the season. After Hopper, Joyce, and Murray destroyed the Russians' Upside Down artifacts, it would make sense that they would be a target for the Russians in season 5. The Russians could return again with a new base and a new plan. Additionally, with Vecna and the Upside Down becoming more powerful, it would also make sense for the Russians to appear in Hawkins to better understand what is going on. The Russians and the Stranger Things crew could even gang up against Vecna to save the world.

Although the rise of Vecna seems like a threat to the Russians' villain status, there is still hope that Stranger Things season 5 can bring their Russian subplot to an end. To do this, they need to answer several vital questions about the Russians' plans and potentially bring the Russians back to Hawkins. In this way, this Stranger Things villain won't be completely forgotten in the series finale chaos, and their dynamic storyline can have a satisfactory and thoughtful end.